Roger of Mortemer
Encyclopedia
Roger I of Mortemer (bef. 990 - aft. 1074), founded the abbey of St. Victor en Caux
in the Pays de Caux
of Upper Normandy as early as 1074 CE. Roger claimed the castle built by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
, that was situated on the river mouth of Eaulne
in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime
. This castle was the chief barony of Roger's descendants. He was the first Norman
ancestor to assume the name Mortimer
, as in the place-name Morte-mer-en-Brai, the land on which the villiage and castle was located.
was invaded by French armies led by Odo, the brother of King Henry I of France
. In response, Duke William II of Normandy
sent his general Roger "fili Episcopi", along with other commanders, to oppose Odo’s forces. They met at the castle in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime
where the battle of Mortemer
ensued. Roger was victorious against Odo, with Guy Comte de Ponthieu taken prisoner. Roger then took possession of the castle in Mortemer and assumed its name. However, his hold on the property was short lived due to a breach of duty to Duke William. Roger had entertained an enemy of the Duke, who was a French operative known as Count Ralph III “the Great”. Count Ralph was Roger’s father-in-law, and thus gave the Count shelter for three days at his castle in Mortemer until he was able to safely return to his own territories. Upon discovering the news that Roger was providing safe haven for an enemy, Duke William banished Roger from Normandy and confiscated his possessions. Eventually, Roger was pardoned by the Duke, but was never able to retain the castle in Mortemer. It wasn’t until Roger’s son, Ranulph de Mortemer, was able to repossess the property by grant of Duke William.
. Roger may also be a direct descendant of Walter de St. Martin, where later sources place him as his paternal grandfather. Roger’s mother was the daughter of a Danish chieftain. She was either a sister or a niece of Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy
, wife of Herfast the Dane, the grandfather of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
. Osbern built Wigmore Castle
in Mortemer. Roger's brother Ralph, was founder of the house of Warren and was closely related to William de Warren
as noted by Ordericus Vitalis. However, William was neither Roger's father, nor brother.
Roger married Hadewisa, a Lady who inherited the Vill of Mees on the river mouth of Bresle and the district of Le Vimieu. Her father was Ralph III "The Great", Count of Amiens
. Roger and Hadewisa had at least three children: Ralnuph
, Hugh, and William.
Saint-Victor-l'Abbaye
Saint-Victor-l’Abbaye is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming village situated by the banks of the river Scie in the Pays de Caux, some south of Dieppe at the junction of the D57, D3 and the D929 roads...
in the Pays de Caux
Pays de Caux
The Pays de Caux is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French département of Seine Maritime in Haute-Normandie. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cliffs on the English Channel coast - its coastline is known as the Côte d'Albâtre...
of Upper Normandy as early as 1074 CE. Roger claimed the castle built by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William FitzOsbern , Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England...
, that was situated on the river mouth of Eaulne
Eaulne
The river Eaulne is one of the rivers that flow from the plateau of the eastern Pays de Caux in the Seine-Maritime département of Haute-Normandie in northern France. The Eaulne’s source is at Mortemer...
in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime
Mortemer, Seine-Maritime
Mortemer is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small forestry and farming village situated in the valley of the river Eaulne in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D7, D36 and the D929 roads...
. This castle was the chief barony of Roger's descendants. He was the first Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
ancestor to assume the name Mortimer
Mortimer
Mortimer is a popular English name, used both as a surname and a given name.- Norman origins :The origin of the name is almost certainly Norman, but the details are disputed....
, as in the place-name Morte-mer-en-Brai, the land on which the villiage and castle was located.
Castle in Mortemer
In 1054, the territory of ÉvreuxÉvreux
Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.-History:In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named Mediolanum Aulercorum, "the central town of the Aulerci", the Gallic tribe then inhabiting the area...
was invaded by French armies led by Odo, the brother of King Henry I of France
Henry I of France
Henry I was King of France from 1031 to his death. The royal demesne of France reached its smallest size during his reign, and for this reason he is often seen as emblematic of the weakness of the early Capetians...
. In response, Duke William II of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
sent his general Roger "fili Episcopi", along with other commanders, to oppose Odo’s forces. They met at the castle in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime
Mortemer, Seine-Maritime
Mortemer is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small forestry and farming village situated in the valley of the river Eaulne in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D7, D36 and the D929 roads...
where the battle of Mortemer
Battle of Mortemer
For 16 years the Norman realms of the young William I of England, then known as Duke William II, were gravely threatened by other Norman barons and also by the French King. This was because William came to power at age seven....
ensued. Roger was victorious against Odo, with Guy Comte de Ponthieu taken prisoner. Roger then took possession of the castle in Mortemer and assumed its name. However, his hold on the property was short lived due to a breach of duty to Duke William. Roger had entertained an enemy of the Duke, who was a French operative known as Count Ralph III “the Great”. Count Ralph was Roger’s father-in-law, and thus gave the Count shelter for three days at his castle in Mortemer until he was able to safely return to his own territories. Upon discovering the news that Roger was providing safe haven for an enemy, Duke William banished Roger from Normandy and confiscated his possessions. Eventually, Roger was pardoned by the Duke, but was never able to retain the castle in Mortemer. It wasn’t until Roger’s son, Ranulph de Mortemer, was able to repossess the property by grant of Duke William.
Family
Roger of Mortemer had been referred to as filius Episcopi meaning, "son of the bishop". Thus, he has been identified as the son of Hugh, bishop of CoutancesCoutances
Coutances is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Capital of the Unelli, a Gaulish tribe, the town took the name of Constantia in 298 during the reign of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus...
. Roger may also be a direct descendant of Walter de St. Martin, where later sources place him as his paternal grandfather. Roger’s mother was the daughter of a Danish chieftain. She was either a sister or a niece of Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy
Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy
Gunnora was the wife and consort of Richard I of Normandy. Her parentage is unknown, earliest sources reporting solely that she was of Danish ancestry and naming siblings including brother Herfast de Crepon who is sometimes erroneously given as her father.She was living with her sister Seinfreda,...
, wife of Herfast the Dane, the grandfather of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William FitzOsbern , Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England...
. Osbern built Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle is a ruined castle which is barely visible from the village of Wigmore in the northwest region of Herefordshire, England.- History :...
in Mortemer. Roger's brother Ralph, was founder of the house of Warren and was closely related to William de Warren
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, Seigneur de Varennes is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066...
as noted by Ordericus Vitalis. However, William was neither Roger's father, nor brother.
Roger married Hadewisa, a Lady who inherited the Vill of Mees on the river mouth of Bresle and the district of Le Vimieu. Her father was Ralph III "The Great", Count of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
. Roger and Hadewisa had at least three children: Ralnuph
Ranulph de Mortimer
Ranulph I de Mortimer of Mortemer-sur-Eaulne, was a Marcher Lord from the Montgomery lands in the Welsh Marches. In England, he was Lord of Wigmore in Herefordshire. In Normandy, he was the Seigneur of St. Victor-en-Caux. Ranulph was the founder of the English House of Mortimer of Wigmore...
, Hugh, and William.